Most running backs in the NFL don’t play past their late 20s, so when Tiki Barber, who will be 36 in April, filed his un-retirement papers with the league on Tuesday after a four-year absence, many were rather skeptical about his motives.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Barber claimed that the success of his brother, Ronde, was the motive for his return, that claim hasn’t totally been accepted. Instead, many believe that Barber is coming back because he’s broke.
Last summer, Barber claimed that he was too “broke” to pay his divorce settlement after having an affair with an NBC intern, and given his dismissal from NBC due to the scandal, the Giants great would likely still be hard up for cash.
Motives aside, former teammate Antonio Pierce made clear on Tuesday that he doesn’t think that Barber has much to offer, spawning a war of words between the two parties.
“Tiki Barber the football player . . . great player, will be very productive in certain situations,” Pierce said Tuesday on ESPN. “Third down, maybe to help out a young quarterback and some young running backs, depend on who it is.
“Tiki Barber the person? The leader? The person in that locker room? He’s not going to do anything for your team. Now if that’s the guy you think you’re bringing in, you might want to look in another direction, because from personal experience, he didn’t do anything to help the Giants the last year, especially 2006 when he decided to retire in the middle of season, and then months later kind of questioned our quarterback and our head coach at the time, Coach Coughlin. That’s my problem with Tiki Barber, but the guy can play. Can he do it four years later? I don’t think he can.”
“What he did in that locker room my last two years with him, he didn’t do anything but deteriorate that team. I don’t see this guy as a leader, or somebody who can help you out and that’s my problem with him.”
Barber’s agent, Mark Lepselter, took exception to the remarks and responded in the New York Post.
“It’s no secret Tiki and Antonio don’t like one another,” Lepselter said. “I wholeheartedly acknowledge Antonio has a Super Bowl ring, but beyond that do I really need to waste my time comparing Tiki’s accomplishments in Giants blue with Antonio’s accomplishments in Giants blue?”
“Tiki’s not going to waste his time with Antonio Pierce,” Lepselter said. “You get paid in that business to be objective and it’s clear he was not objective.”
Barber’s un-retirement will reportedly not involve a return to the Giants backfield.
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How will Tiki Barber’s comeback end? Leave your thoughts below.
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It was “the scariest moment of my life.”
–Serena Williams, on blood clots being discovered in her lungsÂ
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You really hate the Heat that much?
As a Celtics fan, I would like to see the Heat’s losing streak go on.. I cant believe i’m saying this but Go L-A-K-E——- Goo L-a-k-e.. ehh I can never say dat, but I just want them to beat Heat.
–Fez91
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What better way to watch a Bruins game?
